Colorado 2010

Hello fellow bloggers! I hope you've all been enjoying your summer! So far, the highlight for me has been my recent long weekend in Colorado. I was fortunate enough to fly out with my high school pal Phoebe, and meet up with another high school friend, and a couple of Phoebe's sorority sisters/college roommates. We had such a blast!! It was definitely a much needed trip that was good for my soul! Here's how the weekend went...

Phoebe and I were actually on the same flight out, which we didn't plan! We flew out on a Thursday evening, while Hillary was flying from Dallas, expecting to arrive around the same time. Kendra picked us up, we went out to eat after learning Hil's flight was delayed, then our gang made our way to Kendra's for the night. After a glass of wine and a little catch up time, we were ready for sleep.

Friday found us well rested and ready to get going! We started the morning with a yoga class at the studio Kendra manages/teaches. After that, we headed to Boulder for a sushi lunch and a little shopping (which is where I found my black TOMS wedges). Then we made our way to Denver to meet our friend Anisa, who wanted to go hear a band at a bar downtown. We were a little worn out from being out all day, but we sucked it up and headed to the Downtown Tavern. It was SO FUN! Needtobreathe was playing a free show on their rooftop bar, and it was during Happy Hour. Lots of laughs were had, and many cocktails consumed. We spent the night at Anisa's house and a few of us were really feeling it the next morning.

Saturday was Anisa's birthday and she had the day planned for us. She even printed out an itenerary with all kinds of info and put it in a cute little folder with a handwritten note and a picture frame! We started at the Colorado Athletic Club... Anisa and Kendra did a warm yoga class, while Phoebe, Hillary, and I had breakfast and detoxed in the steam room. Next up was pool time! We headed over to the Westin rooftop pool for some sunshine and relaxation. After a few hours of that, we headed towards the Hyatt and checked in to our rooms, before walking over to Aveda Institute for spa services. I had the most amazing back treatment and it felt so great to be pampered! We then headed back to the hotel and got ready for dinner at Tamayo. Dinner was amazing, complete with a few mojitos and more of Anisa's friends. To top off the evening, we made our way over to Comedy Works, where Brian Posehn was the headliner.

Sunday morning after checking out of the hotel, we had a fabulous brunch at Steuben's. By this point we're all a little exhausted and ready for some down time, so we went back to Anisa's and watched the World Cup championship game. After the game, we went our seperate ways, with Anisa taking Hillary to the airport, and me and Phoebe going to Kendra's. I was excited about Sunday night because I got a chance to see a friend from high school, someone I had not seen in probably 15 years, who now lives in Denver! She met up with us that night, and we had a fabulous time catching up over a few glasses of red.

Monday... my last full day in Colorado! We dropped Kendra off at work, so we could have the car. Phoebe and I went on a little hike in Chautauqua Park. Since I'm not used to the altitude, I quickly felt out of shape... my body wasn't hurting, but my lungs were! Next stop was CorePower Yoga, for some more ass-kicking. Who knew I was going on vacation for a workout?! This time it was a hot yoga class, which I had never done before, but always wanted to try. I've heard hot yoga isn't for everyone, but I gotta say, I loved it! After yoga, we went back to Kendra's, where we met Anisa for a quick bite. Then Phoebe went with her, while I stayed at Kendra's, so she could take me to the airport Tuesday morning.

All in all, I think everyone had as much fun as I did! It was great having a long weekend off, to catch up with friends I hadn't seen in a while... some it had just been a few months, others it had been years. Looks like I'll be going again next year for a third annual Colorado trip!

Awesome view from the Westin rooftop pool...


Downtown denver, between dinner and the comedy club...


A view from Chautauqua Park while hiking...

Things that make me happy...

After a lazy and boring weekend, I decided that a veggie burrito and a new pair of shoes would cheer me right up. And I was right! I bought these TOMS today.



I've decided that I also want a pair of Vibram five finger shoes... I've been thinking about it for a few weeks. After talking to a runner friend, I pretty much decided I might need a pair for walking. I tried a pair on today, but they didn't have the color I wanted. Boo! They were so amazingly comfortable. I will definitely be looking for them in CO! Here's the pair I want...



In other news, I can't believe I'm watching these guys from The Bachelorette wrestle each other all greased up with olive oil.

I'm still here...

Yes, I still have a Blogger account! I haven't gone anywhere!

Not much has happened in the last month or so since I've last written. I have been to Dallas twice, both work related. Last month was the big skin care trade show in Arlington, which I LOVE going to each year. And then earlier this month I went to some training for 302 Skincare, the line I carry. So I've just been work, work, working. I'm ready for a little summertime fun. I went to Groovefest last weekend... I just love little festivals where you can pack a cooler and listen to music while sipping on cold beer. Good times. I finally got my key to the neighborhood pool! Can't wait for a little swim time, sunshine, and relaxation.

I'm excited about my summertime shows! You all should know by now, I am a bit of a television addict. I've got The Bachelorette, which is flippin' AWESOME this season. SYTYCD just started up, and I'm loving the boys this season. Big Brother starts soon. I'm currently recording Glee on my DVR, I heard they were repeating the whole first season over the summer, so I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon. I feel like the only person in the world who has never seen an episode of Glee.

Looks like I might be going to CO again this summer! More details to come on that. Hope you wonderful Blogger people are having a fantastic June!

Farmer's Market...

I heart the Farmer's Market. I heart having Saturdays off so I can go and check out all the yummy fresh vegetables and fruits that make their way to my refrigerator. Today I bought yellow squash, asparagus, cucumbers, green onions, broccoli, and strawberries. Super YUMMY! I heart the thought of supporting local growers, and I heart that I'm eating healthy!

I've been very intersted in healthy eating for quite some time now. That doesn't mean I've eaten healthy all these years. As I've said before, I have a real weakness for sugar. As I eat more fruit lately, that craving seems to be fading a little. I've been using stevia more and more, and I've discovered that having unsweetened cocoa powder around helps tremendously. I'm in love with greek yogurt and strawberries right now.

My next venture is going raw for a few weeks. This is going to be a challenge for me, but I know it will be worth it. I'm looking at it as a detox. If there are people who actually commit to this way of eating for life, I know I can handle it for two weeks! I plan on starting this after my long weekend in Tulsa and Dallas.

Being a grown up. A single grown up.

Is it weird that even though I'm in my mid-thirties I still have moments where it doesn't seem real that I actually am, in fact, in my mid thirties? Compared to most other women my age, I do lead a bit of a different life than the norm... especially the Oklahoma, Bible Belt norm. I am a happily single, never been married gal, no children, still unsure of whether I even want children. Just me, my dog, my house, my career... and I rather like it that way. I'm pretty lucky that most people in my life accept me for who I am and don't judge. And I'm happy that everyone has backed off of the whole "I know a guy you should meet" thing.

And as lucky as I am that I have an awesome group of girls that I can turn to for anything, I don't really have any friends that I can just call up on a whim and say "hey, put on your party shoes, let's go out." My girls don't have the typical 9-5hours and sometimes work on weekends, so to get us all together, free on the same night... well, it's like an act of congress. I feel like I'm young and single, yet I don't always feel as though I'm taking advantage of it. I am truly happy where I am in life, I guess I just wish I knew more women that were also happy being single. The few single people I do know, don't seem very happy about it. Which is interesting to me, because I know plenty of people who are in miserable relationships.

(I think I need to stop watching so much Sex & the City.)

Thank heavens for my Blogger friends, who actually give me a little hope. Thank you for not blogging about how miserable you are in your marriages. I know that no relationship is perfect, but I love happy blogs! I don't want anyone to think that I'm anti-marriage or anything, I'm just happy where I'm at for the time being. I figure that when the right guy comes along, then fantastic. I just don't see the point in wallowing and wondering when that's going to happen. Life is good. There's soooooo much to be thankful for in my world.

Oh, cupcakes... how I love you so...

I did a bad thing today. I had cupcakes for breakfast. Italian Cream. Doesn't sound that bad, does it? Normally, it wouldn't be a bad thing... if I could stop at just one. And I didn't already have a smoothie for breakfast. Ugh. It felt so good at the time. It didn't feel that great at about 3:30, when I was coming down from a sugar high... which led to a sugar coma. I. Felt. So. Gross.

I'm just now starting to feel normal again. I think I'll go for a walk.

A great weekend...

This was one of those weekends where everything kind of came about at the last minute. I had originally planned on enjoying a really lazy few days, and working a short day on Saturday. Instead, my Saturday ended up being booked with clients, which was something I desperately needed!

After work, I met up with my friend Kathy, her mom, and two other friends... to help Kathy pick out a dress for her wedding. This was my first experience at bridal dress shopping, and I have to say, it was really fun. Kathy looked amazing in every single dress she tried on... I guess that what happens when you are trying on dresses in a size 0! I always thought that when it came time to get married, I would want a super simple dress, but after being in the bridal shop and seeing all these different beautiful styles... well, I guess I can see how it would be easy to turn into a bridezilla. These are the top two picks that came from Saturday's adventure...



It's hard to tell from the pics, but the second dress is short... which I thought would be fun since she's getting married on the beach. But that first dress is just soooooo gorgeous and elegant.

This is a dress that I love and I convinced her to try on. I was the only fan! I knew that only a really tiny person could pull this one off, so I wanted to see it on.


After closing down the bridal shop, we headed over to the Cheesecake Factory for a much needed feast. The weather was perfect for outside dining, and we were lucky enough to snag a patio table. My portabello burger was AMAZING, and so was my dessert! All five of us ordered a different cheesecake and sampled each different one. Then took the leftovers home! My pineapple upside down cheesecake was delicous this morning for breakfast!

Friday night I met with a few friends and we watched A Nightmare On Elm Street. My friends seemed to enjoy it, but I thought it was pretty cheesy. After that we headed over to the Library for beer and pizza. Can you say overindulgance? It was most definitely the theme of my weekend! Which is why today has been a very lazy day. I'll be back at it tomorrow. I've got to get some yardwork done, laundry, cleaning the house... the stuff I've been putting off.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

The Carrie Diaries

Synopsis
Before Carrie Bradshaw hit the big time in the City, she was a regular girl growing up in the suburbs of Connecticut. How did she turn into one of the most-read social observers of our generation?

The Carrie Diaries opens up in Carrie's senior year of high school. She and her best friends -- Walt, Lali, Maggie, and the Mouse -- are inseparable, amid the sea of Jens, Jocks and Jets. And then Sebastian Kydd comes into the picture. Sebastian is a bad boy-older, intriguing, and unpredictable. Carrie falls into the relationship that she was always supposed to have in high school-until a friend's betrayal makes her question everything. With her high school days coming to a close, Carrie will realize it's finally time to go after everything she ever wanted.

Rabid fans of Sex and the City will love seeing Carrie Bradshaw evolve from a regular girl into a sharp, insightful writer. They'll learn about her family background -- how she found her writing voice, and the indelible impression her early friendships and relationships left on her. We'll see what brings Carrie to her beloved New York City, where the next Carrie Diaries book will take place.

Publishers Weekly
This polished prequel to Sex and the City reveals the ample drama that filled Carrie Bradshaw’s life before her move to Manhattan. With wit and insight, Carrie chronicles her emotionally charged senior year at a small Connecticut high school. While her friends’ lives seem to be falling into place—especially on the dating and sex fronts—Carrie has just been rejected by a summer writing seminar in New York City, and laments, “I have nothing figured out at all.” She falls hard for a slick underachiever who eventually leaves her for one of her best friends, while her widower father grapples with single parenthood, made tougher by Carrie’s rebellious youngest sister’s antics. Readers should be amused by some of the period details (Carrie’s 18-year-old friends can drink legally), though they don’t weigh heavily on the story, making the early 1980s setting feel almost incidental. Similarly, there’s little that shouts, “This is the Carrie Bradshaw you know and love,” as opposed to any other thoughtful teenager slowly coming into her own. But readers should enjoy witnessing Carrie’s burgeoning independence and confidence as a writer. Ages 14–up. (Apr.)

As a super fan of SATC, I will be reading this. Big shock to those of you that know me, I'm sure. I was thinking I might actually download the mp3 and listen to it on the way to Tulsa or Dallas - which I've got coming up soon. I will of course be buying the book, because be honest - even if the book isn't that great, the cover looks pretty awesome.

I'm at a loss...

I honestly have no idea what in the world I'm going to blog about. I'm at a loss for words.

I have several friends going through some difficult times. It's hard to watch people I care about going through a rough patch. I have a friend going through some difficulty with her endometriosis, and has been in some pain lately. On top of her physical pain, she's had some sort of falling out with someone close to her - and she's feeling really alone right now. I have another friend who is going through some difficulty in her marriage. She's only been married less than three years, but is currently separated from her husband. So, for those of you who believe in the power of prayer - keep my friends in your thoughts. I just want them to find happiness wherever it may lead them.

I'm so thankful for my blogger friends! Even though I only have a few, I enjoy reading your posts and feel like I've gotten to know you all so well. I made a conscious choice to only follow blogs by people I know, or blogs that had a positive outlook. And as a result, I've tried to be positive in my own blog, as well. It's great to start my mornings with my coffee and a quick update on what's on everyone's mind! It's also nice to unwind at the end of the day with my hot tea and an quick recap of my day.

(Yes, I love my hot beverages!)

I'm looking forward to a VERY low key weekend. I'm amazed that this week is almost over. I think it's going to be a fantastic time to tackle a few things on my "34 things" list. I'll keep ya posted =)

Time flies... when you're blogging every day.

So technically, I skipped a day. But I just got home from watching the Thunder game at a friend's house, and didn't think to blog before I left.

Yesterday I went to lunch with my mom and grandma, then I tagged along while my mom looked at window treatments at Lowe's. I really should just not step in a Lowe's or Home Depot or any sort of home builder place like that until I win the lottery. Any time I go there, I start getting a million ideas swirling around my head about what my perfect home would look like. I already want to build a deck or expand my teeny tiny patio area, then one trip to Lowe's and I'm ready to remodel my kitchen and bathroom. Anyone seen the show where a guy approaches people at these stores, trying to find a big home project to take over? I desperately want to be on this show. I think it's on DIY, but I can't remember the name.

Anyway, something you may not know about me... I dream of a mostly white kitchen. White cabinets, white subway tiles, with a dark wood floor. I just think a light, bright kitchen would feel so refreshing and inviting. A few pics I found online:





I LOVE these blue tiles in the mostly white kitchen.

A case of the Mondays... and a few cures!

I've definitely got a case of the Mondays, and judging from several Facebook status updates, I'm not the only one. I am in a real funk today and I don't know why. I had a great weekend. Had a fun time at the Norman Music Festival. Maybe it's the weather, maybe it's hormones, maybe it's just a little exhaustion from spending 8 hours outside yesterday, but I'm going to share with you things that make me happy when I'm having a bad day.

1. My dog! Hayden is my little love bug. He always knows what kind of mood I'm in and acts accordingly. Unlike a man, he doesn't ask over and over "what's wrong?", he just knows that I'm having a bad day and lays next to me, wherever I am. If the weather is nice, I'll go outside and play ball with him, and that always lifts me up, too!




2. Music. When having a bad day, music always makes me feel better. I have a playlist on my ipod just for this occasion. It's a mix of super cheesy stuff, songs I know by heart, and songs that just make me want to move! There are too many songs to list here, but a few artists include The Beatles, Jimmy Eat World, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Killers, Christina Aguilera, Tegan & Sara, The Flaming Lips, The New Pornographers, and The Lemonheads. I heart my ipod!!

3. Sex & The City reruns. I love popping in a DVD of old shows, whatever I'm in the mood for, I've got it! Nothing helps me block out my troubles more than hibernating on the couch for a bit, and drinking a glass of red while watching my SATC girls.


4. At home spa. When I'm really stressed, I love a hot bubble bath. Throw in a facial mask, Mazzy Star in the background (my favorite bubble bath music), scrub the roughness off the bottom of my feet, dim the lights a little... soooo relaxing! Then I put on my favorite PJ's, and I'm good to go!

Okay, friends... I wanna know... what do you do to cheer yourself up when you're in a bad mood, or having a case of the Mondays?

Sunday Survey

Since I plan on spending most of my day at the Norman Music Festival, I thought I'd do a quick little survey that I stole from my friend Reese.



1. Men's chests..hairy or hairless?
I don't mind a little hair on the chest, but I don't want to see any on the back!

2. How often do you run red lights?
Not very often, unless they were yellow and thought I could make it.

3. If you could raid any celebrity's closet..whose would you raid?
This one is hard... someone with lots of jeans and big handbags. Cameron Diaz or Drew Barrymore? Cameron has better red carpet looks... they both probably have some cute eco-friendly pieces, too!

4. Would you rather have more followers/friends on Facebook, Twitter, or your Blog?
Facebook, I'm on there all the time and it's easy to keep up with people that way.

5. What makes you feel sexy?
I don't remember! Getting all dressed up, which rarely happens.

6. I get excited when...........?
Spring is here, and there are a lot of things going on... I LOVE live music outdoors. Can't wait for Summer Breeze concert series!

7. Are you the "outdoorsy" type or more "indoorsy"?
Outdoorsy in the spring/summer, but not in a hiking or camping kind of way. More like a yard work, Farmer's Market, live music kind of way!

8. Would you rather have your dream home or a million dollars?
If I took the million, I could buy my dream home and have plenty left over!

hotties...

As I'm sitting here waiting for my hot tea to cool, I thought I'd share a few thoughts for my daily post...

If Sweet Home Alabama is ever on TV, I will stay glued to the television and not change channels. It's one of my favorite movies of all time. But I don't own it. The movies I DO own, I hardly ever watch. What's up with that? Why don't I just buy the silly movie and watch it commercial free whenever I want? I think I get sucked in by Josh Lucas. He's just so darn cute.



Which makes me realize, Patrick Dempsey (aka McDreamy) is not all that. Don't get me wrong, he's certainly not a bad looking guy. He just doesn't do anything for me. There are sexier men out there. A few examples... (who doesn't appreciate a blog with eye candy?)

I've been watching Damages, and I forgot how much I love Timothy Olyphant. What a hottie!


How can anyone NOT have a crush on Bradley Cooper?


Yes, Gerard Butler. Yes, I will marry you.


If all else fails, post pictures of hot guys. New blog motto? It just might work.

I'm making myself blog...

because the truth is, I don't really feel like it right now =)

Since I started this 30 day thing, I haven't really had any days where I just didn't feel like it. I've had plenty of days where I had no idea what I was going to blog about, but this is the first day I've just felt like completely skipping out. It feels like Saturday. I feel exhausted. I'm not hungry, but I know I should eat something. I want to get in my PJ's and shut out the world. I'm not in a bad mood, but I feel like I need to hibernate for a bit! Ooh, drained is a good word - I feel drained!

Well, I was wrong in my Project Runway prediction. Congrats to Seth Aaron!!! His collection was AMAZING!! I'm off to watch the reunion show they aired after the finale - just couldn't stay awake for it last night.

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I'm looking forward to the Norman Music Festival and hanging out with friends!

I know, I know... I am a television addict.

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you knew that already. Tonight is the season finale of Project Runway, and I'm so excited. I admit that this season has been a little underwhelming, but I am totally rooting for Seth Aaron, because I personally love his rock and roll vibe. Do I think he'll win? No. I think Emilio will probably take this one.

It's also the last season of Lost. I was one of these people who refused to watch this show when it first came on. I remember everybody talking about it, and thinking "this show sounds so bizarre, I don't think I'd like it". I was wrong. I got completely sucked into it, and I think it's because I like being confused. It's very exciting that it's about to all be wrapped up, though. Can't wait to see how it ends!

I so ready for So You Think You Can Dance to come back on. I just wished I'd seen more of the past seasons, because apparently they're bringing back people from previous seasons. They're changing up the format a little, so I can't wait to see some of the talent this season. I hate it when I mention this show and someone asks if I watch Dancing With the Stars. Are you kidding me? NO, I do NOT watch Dancing With washed up celebrities (or people who were never stars to begin with). SYTYCD features ACTUAL dancers, with extraordinary talent... and I love that there's such a variety of dance styles. Not just ballroom, but hip-hop, jazz, contemporary, Broadway, Latin styles and more. And the choreography is seriously amazing! Have I convinced you to watch yet?!

I'm so behind with the DVR. I've been trying to get through Damages, so I can get to season 3. Looks like a stormy night in headed this way, and I got the yard work done yesterday, so I think I'll curl up and take it easy tonight!

This is hard...

coming up with a title for every single blog I do. I sure wish I could be creative and witty, but that's just not my thing. I write like I would say things, and I don't always sound that smart. Especially when I go back and read old blog entries, sometimes I'm trying to be funny and I'm not, and other times I'm not trying to be funny and I am. Most of the time I think I just crack myself up, because I have a really corny sense of humor, and that doesn't always come across until you get to know me in person. But then that's another thing... I can be a little hard to get to know. I'm shy in a way, and I'm territorial. If we're on my turf, surrounded by people I know, I can be pretty outgoing. Throw me in new surroundings amongst people I've never met, and my shyness comes out full force. It took me forever to come out of my shell at the salon. Being the new girl, thrown in an environment with almost ten other girls, almost gave me a panic attack every day for the longest time. Ask the girls now, and they might remember me being a little shy, but they'd probably just tell you I'm a big dork. Because they see me every day and know that I truly am a dork, and I'm completely cool with that!

I honestly don't know where any of that came from. ha! All I had originally planned on saying in this blog was that I got a new battery for my car today and all seems to be okay! I have no idea why the oil pressure light was coming on. They checked the oil level and all was fine with that. They did a battery test and discovered that my battery was on it's last breath. Since the new battery, my car has been starting fine and the light hasn't come back on.

This is totally unrelated, but does anyone watch Damages? I'm watching season 2 right now, and this show is crazy. I can't keep up with what's going on, and I feel like an idiot because I get easily confused while watching!

It's a hot bath kind of night...

As in, Calgon take me away. It's been a rough day.

I had a great day yesterday, lunch and facials with mom, Penn Square mall for a little shopping, then on to my friend Lisa's house for a little dinner and girl time. As I left her house to head back to Norman, I began not feeling well. Not sure if it was something I ate or what, but I was really feeling gross. And I noticed a flashing red light on my dashboard I'd never seen before. I thought I'd deal with it the next day, because I just wanted to get home and lay down. So, I come home, feed the dog, lay down, and then got sick. Like throw up sick. I felt AWFUL! I finally lay back down and wake up this morning feeling better, but still a little off. Get ready for work, and head out... the little red flashing light from the night before is no longer flashing. What? I'm wondering if I made the whole thing up. I checked the owners manual and see that it's a light for oil pressure.

Sooooo... as I leave work to go to lunch, my freaking car won't start!! What?!?! I get a jump from someone with cables, and all seems to be okay. I leave work at 5 to go home, start the car, and the red light is flashing again! I stop the car, restart it, and the light is no longer flashing. WTH? Since I've been home tonight, I've gone out and started the car again, just to make sure it would, and the same exact thing happened! Red light flashes on first start, but when I stop and restart, the light stops flashing.

I've been advised by three or four people to go get a free battery check at Auto Zone, so I guess I'll do that first thing tomorrow. I'm just wondering what the oil pressure light has to do with the battery? And I'm hoping that whatever is wrong with my car doesn't cost a fortune. Because if it's gonna cost a fortune, I might as well just get a new car.

I don't like being stressed. It doesn't look good on me. Unlike the green striped cardigan I got at The Limited yesterday.

OKC remembers...

Just like everyone else in Oklahoma, I remember exactly where I was when I heard about the Murrah Federal Building bombing. I was a freshman at The University of Oklahoma, living in the dorms, sleeping through my early morning intro philosophy class. My friend Brandy, who lived across the hall, was in the same class and we had devised a system where we took turns going to class and sleeping in. That particular day was her turn to go. I woke up to her pounding on my door, and my first thought was that I had missed a test by not going. When I opened the door and let her in, I was still pretty groggy and what she was telling me made no sense. She wanted me to drive her somewhere to go donate blood. It wasn't until I got around and made my way to the lounge on our floor to check out the television coverage, that I fully understood the extent of what had happened.

I immediately remembered a conversation at dinner the night before. Brandy's suitemate Renae and I had met up with a couple guys in the cafeteria, and had dinner with them. We didn't know them all that well, so we were having the basic get to know each other conversation. One of the questions that came up was "what do your parents do for a living?". Brian told us his mom worked in the federal building. Not one of those things you would typically remember or put much thought into, but that conversation rushed back to us as we were stuck to the TV.

Brian lost his mother that day. I always think about that, think about him. Even though we weren't close friends, and didn't keep in touch after the dorms, I always remember that day. And I know that I always will.

Movie night...

What a great weekend! I've been lazy, but I think I needed it and didn't know it.

Last night I hung out with a couple ladies from work and we decided to do a low key movie night. And what a spread we had! We had Cabernet, frozen peanut M&M's, creme brulee almonds, an assortment of cheeses and jellies from Forward Foods, shrimp ceviche, hummus, crackers, pita bread, and fresh fruit including strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and red and white grapes. It was heavenly! I overindulged, and I must say... I enjoyed every moment of it.

We watched Couples Retreat (which I had seen before)... it's hilarious! Vince Vaughn always makes me laugh. Then we watched The Fourth Kind, which is about alien abduction. Really weird movie. Supposedly based on a true story and contains actual footage and interviews, but I was left wondering if it was really based on a true story or made out to be a Blair Witch type project. Anyone seen it? Thoughts? All I know is, I have no interest in visiting Nome, Alaska. Ever.

thermostat wars

Silly Oklahoma weather! It sure likes to keep us guessing, doesn't it? I was so enjoying the sunshine! I forced myself to get on the treadmill today. Since I walked outside all week before, it just seemed like it took so much effort to do it inside. As soon as the sun comes out again, my yard is going to need some serious work. This rain is going to make the grass and weeds grow like crazy!

I got a little giggle the other day when I got two comments about not turning on the A/C yet. Because when I woke up this morning, I seriously considered turning on the heat again. I was wearing a sweatshirt and sweatpants, and I was cold. The thermostat said 68, so I thought I'd just rough it out... layer a bit if I had to. Did I mention I'm a little cold natured? I don't usually turn on the A/C until it's at least 80 in the house, and when I wrote that blog the other day, it was only 78. It's just one of many reasons I like not having a roommate.

When I lived with my friend Phoebe in college, we constantly had thermostat wars. She loves cold weather. The first day it snowed the winter we lived together, I came home to find her bedroom window partially open. I freaked. A few weeks or so later, I thought she would be staying the night with her boyfriend, because it was pretty late and she hadn't come home yet, so I cranked the heat up pretty high. She came home after I'd gone to bed. And freaked. Thinking back to that makes me laugh. She was soooo pissed!

Friday thoughts...

1. There's nothing better than bringing the week to an end by having a super chill night at home. Fixing a little dinner, drinking a little wine... I sure do appreciate nights like these!

2. I love being a redhead! I don't care what anyone else says! A lot of people prefer me as a blonde, but I like me as a redhead, and I'm staying that way for a while. So there!!

3. Target's Mossimo V-neck tee shirts make me soooo happy! Went and bought another one today. In black. And a couple of cotton skirts. Knee length. I heart you, Target. Thank you for keeping my summer wardrobe within my budget.

4. I'm craving a road trip. I'm feeling the need for one in my bones. Good thing I've got Dallas next month. I don't want to blow my China budget!

5. I'm really excited about my birthday this year! I know it's months away... like three and a half months away... but I started thinking about what I want to do for it the other day! I think after having one of the worst birthdays ever last year, the universe is going to show me a really great time this year!

Oh snap! I almost forgot...

I almost forgot to blog, that is! I've been doing so well with my 30 day challenge, I would've felt so bad if I skipped tonight.

Thursday Thoughts...

1. Today was Tax Day! And it felt really great knowing I had everything squared away weeks ago, and wasn't stressing a bit.

2. I'm a redhead again! I love being a redhead!

3. I went on a walk around the neighborhood tonight. It was fabulous! I love seeing my neighbors out walking, working in their yards, walking their dogs. After my power walk, I came home and did some crunches and planks. I'm trying to get some abs!

4. I never thought I'd say this, but I need a mixer. I've always been a little scared of kitchen equipment, but I've come to realize that if I want to satisfy my sweet tooth, I'm gonna have to take matters into my own hands. I also need mixing bowls. All these things I thought I'd never want or need... I wish I could register at Bed Bath & Beyond.

5. I'm uber-excited for Norman Music Festival!! Next weekend is almost here!

6. I'm also uber-excited for the SATC premiere! I heart you, Sarah Jessica Parker!! One look at you in a hot little dress, and I'm pretty sure I can squeeze out a few more crunches.

7. I can't believe how hot my house is. Thank goodness for ceiling fans! I'm trying to avoid turning on my air conditioner for as long as possible.

It's the little things...

Anyone who knows me well should know that I really truly love the little things in life. It doesn't take a lot to make me happy. So today I will share with you some of the little things that truly make me excited.

(In list form, just for you Kathy!)

1. Wine...
Red wine. Shiraz. Merlot. Cab Sav. I typically have a glass a night. Lately I've been having a square or two of dark chocolate with my glass. I couldn't drink while on HCG, so I appreciate it even more now. There's no better way to unwind...

2. Cheese...
I could eat it by the block. I don't keep it around the house too much because it would just be bad news. I could spend a small fortune at Forward Foods, a local cheese shop here in Norman. I'm no cheese expert. I wasn't even aware of all the different cheeses available until my first visit there. A meal isn't a meal without cheese.



3. Netflix...
Greatest idea ever. I'm currently watching the last disc of Mad Men season 3. Next up is Damages season 2... the third season is on my DVR, so I can't wait for a Damages marathon!!

4. V-neck tees...
Target has the most amazing V-neck tees! Last season I got a shirt in navy and a shirt in grey. When I went in today, they had them again, for only $8!! I got an olive green shirt. And I might go back tomorrow for another one... or two!

5. Protein shakes...
What an easy and tasty snack! I've been having one every day. Sometimes with chocolate, sometimes with strawberries... I just add stevia and Greek yogurt, and it tastes like a milkshake!

Hmmmm...

Not too much to report today.

I just fixed a cup of coffee... I totally meant for it to be decaf since it is 8:30, but I noticed a little too late that it's not decaf. I drank it anyway, because I hate the thought of wasting a perfectly fine cup of coffee. You know what I thought of as soon as I finished it? I should've stuck it in the fridge, that way it would be cold in the morning. I love iced coffee. And I've been wanting to try a homemade mocha frappuccino for breakfast.

Don't you just hate it when you have a brilliant idea a minute too late?

Today was a beautiful day. I went for a walk as soon as I got home from work. Then I made some ridiculously yummy cheesecake muffin things. Having dinner at Paseo Grill tomorrow night... one of my favorite OKC spots for dinner!

I went and saw Valentines Day at the dollar movies yesterday... super cute movie. I also want to see Crazy Heart, hopefully it's still playing next Monday.

The things we find... soundtracks to my life

As you know, I've been working on getting my office together. Which means going through random notebooks that have been in a box in the garage since I moved in. For some reason I've kept quite a few notebooks from college that contain notes, essays, papers, and exams. I have no idea why I've kept them... I guess it's kinda fun to go back through that stuff... and I'm quickly reminded of how much I learned in college, only to forget years later. One notebook that I came across was a notebook from high school. I used to do a lot of writing back then, mostly poetry that reflected how immature and miserable I was at the time. I came across a page with "Callie's Soundtrack" written at the top. And since this is your lucky day, I'm going to share with you what was on that page.

(Keep in mind that this was 1994? Or '95?)

1. Today... Smashing Pumpkins
I soooooo loved Siamese Dream in high school, even though looking back Mayonnaise is my favorite song from that CD.

2. Fuck and Run... Liz Phair
Pardon my language, but that's the name of the song. I thought I was so cool for liking Liz Phair. I still think I'm cool for liking Liz Phair.

3. None of Your Business... Salt & Pepa
This makes me laugh so hard! I think Laurie and I drove around singing this in my car... and when Phoebe and I were dorm roomies, we'd sing this all the time. What memories!

4. In Your Eyes... Peter Gabriel
In my opinion, I still think it's one of the best songs ever. But nothing annoys me more than when someone thinks this is Peter's only great song. I heart Peter Gabriel so much. One of my favorite artists of all time. I would kill to see him live.

5. Hurt... Nine Inch Nails
So funny, I was just thinking today that Pretty Hate Machine is one of my all time favorite CD's. I mean, this song is awesome and all, but I'm shocked I picked this song, and not a PHM song. This song is sooooo depressing. Guess it was fitting at the time!

6. American Girl... Tom Petty
Funny how all these classic rock bands found their way back while I was in high school. We thought we were pretty cool listening to Tom Petty, The Eagles, and Skynard. This song still puts me in a good mood. It makes me want to drive!

7. What's Up... Four Non Blondes
I so remember the first time I ever heard this song. I fell in love and knew it would be popular! Laurie and I drove around singing this at the top of our lungs. Good times!

8. Crucify... Tori Amos
Of course this list wouldn't be complete without Tori. I first heard her when I was 15. Who knew I'd still be so in love almost twenty years later? This song will ALWAYS haunt me.

9. Add It Up... Violent Femmes
In the movie of my life, this song would be played in a scene with the top down on the Miata, cruising through town, with me in the middle, sitting on the back of a two seater, strawberry limeade slush(with vodka)in hand, long hair blowing in the summer breeze.

10. Dancing Queen... ABBA
LOVE this song! I think we played it at all our high school parties... reminds me of my friend Keely every time!

That's all that was on that list... and I'm surprised at the songs not on the list. So, a few honorable mentions include: Joey(Concrete Blonde), Stray Cat Strut, The Tide is High(Blondie), It's The End of The World As We Know It(And I Feel Fine), any Linda Rondstant song, Rid of Me(PJ Harvey), and any song from The Pixies' Trompe Le Monde album.

I went back in 2002 and updated the list. I'm saving that for another day. Who knows... maybe I'll update the list for 2010!

Whoo...

I'm a little worn out!

I decided to paint the office today. I painted only one wall, which is the wall you see when you walk in the room, which is behind me as I sit at my desk. I love it. I think the entire room in this color would be too much. I love accent walls. I ran out of paint though, so I'll eventually have to go back and get enough to touch up the rest. I'm going to find a valance or curtain tomorrow, and maybe a lamp?

I'll post pics tomorrow, if I find a window treatment I like. I'm so glad to get some work done on this room. I'm off to pour a glass of Merlot and watch The Amazing Race.

Cupcakes, no-show's, and flip flops...

Three words that pretty much sum up my day.

I had another cupcake today, courtesy of The Cupcake Queen. When I got to work and peeked in the mini fridge, there were still some of the flourless cupcakes from yesterday. And I just couldn't let them go bad. And they're flourless! I don't know what they were made with or how they were made, but it tasted like a piece of fudge, topped with whipped cream and a raspberry.

That cupcake totally made up for the fact that my 10:00 client didn't show up. And my 11:00 cancelled. That cupcake was worth me getting up at 7:45 and driving to work for no reason.

I decided today to throw away all but one pair of flip flops, and go buy a pair of new ones. Ever since I worked at Dillard's, I've worn Reef flip flops. They are amazing. I think every pair I have I bought while I worked there, so I got them at a discount. I realized today, I left Dillard's in 2005! I'd say it's high time I got a new pair! This time I splurged on the Rainbow brand. I've never been happier. I'm feeling a little granola and I like it.


I have decided to take this day, and truly enjoy being lazy. I might paint the office tomorrow. We'll see. For now, I've got some DVR to catch up with. Toodles!

Are you high maintenance?

I certainly don't think I am. I'm pretty easy going, self-sufficient, in fact... I'd say I'm pretty low maintenance. But working in salon, I get to see all types. And I'm constantly amazed at the women who act like their world might come to an end because of a cracked nail, or not getting in with their favorite stylist the very next day because she's booked for two weeks out. I've always been pretty lucky, because I don't really have any clients that test my limits. Until now.

Let me just say... that if you bring a magnifying mirror to your wax appointment, you are indeed, TOO high maintenance. It is literally impossible to wax or tweeze any hair that hasn't even popped out of the follicle yet. Seriously.

I'm going out for live music and a glass of wine tonight, and I deserve it.

Happy 100th to me!

Wow! Just realized it's my 100th blog post! In case you didn't notice, I've blogged a little more recently... I might turn this into the "blog for a whole month" part of my list. I really wish I had something super awesome to blog about, but instead I'm going to bore you with details of my Thursday.

First of all, the energy I've had lately is amazing. My metabolism is crazy good right now. I honestly haven't felt this good since my early twenties. I know that it's diet related, and wish I knew/could comprehend all the science behind it. I know that HCG is supposed to reset your metabolism and "retrain" your brain... more specifically, the hypothalamus. And I feel like I'm living proof that it did it's job. Sooooo... I'm also thinking that the "detox" from sugar and starches is having a huge effect as well. Plus, I've been eating a high protein breakfast every morning which really saves me from starving later in the day.

My typical day before all this HCG crazy-ness started looked like this: wake up after pressing snooze several times, check e-mail and play on computer while sipping coffee, take shower, go to work, come home, lay on couch and watch TV.

This is what today looked like: wake up before alarm, have coffee with quick computer time, get ready for work, prepare eggs with salsa and cheese, a piece of soy sausage, and green tea. Go to work early. Treat myself to a cupcake for the first time in a month, get my hair cut, order protein powder online, pick up hair products for my new 'do (I just keep on going shorter), come home, go for a walk, attempt Jillian Micheal's Yoga DVD (I didn't make it the whole half hour!), fix dinner and clean up my mess, do three loads of laundry, vacuum, clean bathroom, blog. Haven't even turned on the DVR yet. I can't sit still!

I've probably done more to my house in the past month than I have the whole time I've lived here. Gotta say, it feels pretty awesome!

Looking forward to...

getting started on my office. This weekend might be the one to get started. Got the bookshelf from my grandma's house, think I've got a color picked out, ready to make this room a little less boring.

getting my hair done! My roots are sooooo long, and I'm ready for a sassier cut. I see red in my future.. it's been a while.

getting some new jeans! I need to go to Penn Square and check out the Pink Victoria's Secret store. I bought my favorite ripped up jeans there last year, and I'm hoping they still have them, or something similar. I need at least a size (maybe two) smaller.

watching Mad Men season 3!! It's been in my Netflix queue since it came out, but I wanted to wait until I was guaranteed all the discs in the right order!

For some reason yesterday seemed like the longest day EVER. My first client of the day (10:00) didn't show up... we call her and find out she had written down NEXT Tuesday. My last client of the day (5:30) still wasn't there by 5:45, so I call her to make sure we had the right day, and in she walks. So today I'm focusing all I have to look forward to, and of course, always focusing on what I'm thankful for! Have a great Wednesday!

I love spring...

Another day up before the alarm, and I love it. I'm blaming spring... I absolutely love the long days, and waking up early to see the light outside. It just makes me want to get up and start a new day! I love driving around town and seeing the trees come back to life after a cold winter, seeing flowers wherever you go. I love seeing people out and about... runners on a path, kids playing at the park, people walking their dog, mowing their yard... it's just so refreshing! Pretty soon we'll be facing the Oklahoma heat and wanting to stay inside with the air conditioner cranked up, but right now, it's just beautiful.

Last night, I went and saw The Blind Side. What an amazing movie! I really love sports movies, and this may be up at the top as one of my favorites. If you haven't seen it, go get it today!

Have a great Tuesday, blog world!

P3 & Positivity

Another day of being up early, before the alarm... and I kinda love it. Not sure if my body has finally adjusted itself to daylight savings time or what, but it works! These last few mornings I've woken up full of energy, excited to face the world, get things done, and have a little time for myself at the end of the day. This magnet is on my fridge and I read it over and over throughout the day. Cheesy? Maybe. But it works for me, and nothing feels better than optimism flowing through my veins.


(I also like the feeling of coffee flowing through my veins, which leads me to my next thought.)

I finished the low calorie part of my diet, and have moved on to Phase 3! This part of the diet consists of upping your calories to the number needed to maintain your weight, eating NO sugars or starches, and staying stable at your last dosage weight from the last phase. I'm three days into it, and happy to report I am staying stable! I've added dairy back to my diet, and don't seem to have a problem. Which means I can have Starbucks again!!! Yippee!!


(Since I can't have starches, I have to tell you how I made "mashed potatoes" last night!)

I've heard of this before, but I guess I just wasn't quite adventurous enough! Okay, so I boiled a few cups of cauliflower until soft, then pureed it in a blender, adding cottage cheese and sour cream. Then I put it back on the stove top and melted in butter, adding in seasonings... garlic salt, sea salt, cracked black pepper. Oh. My. Goodness. It was DIVINE! And it tasted just like mashed potatoes. Next time I'll probably use more sour cream, and melt in a little cheddar cheese.

Just got a call... looks like my pedi/facial trade is off. Bummer! I now see laundry in my future!

Happy Easter!

Awake at 6:30 on a Sunday... what do people do when they're up this early?! I seriously thought about trying to fall back asleep, but knew I'd have a problem with waking up a few hours later. Why not fix a hot cup of coffee and get caught up on Blogger? I might even go on a walk around the neighborhood, it feels like perfect weather for it!

Yesterday was a great day. I went to work at 10, had a busy day until 3 or so, then ran errands... got gas and oil for my lawn mower, mowed the front yard. Both neighbors on either side of me mowed this past week, so it was time! I'll do the back yard later today, hopefully. I also cleaned out the flower bed and prepped it for new flowers. Went to Lowe's and got a Shepard's hook for my hanging plants and bird feeder. In all the going back and forth through the back yard to the front yard, I must've not latched the gate very well, because my dog pulled an escape artist act. Now I know how my mom always felt when I would wander off in the supermarket... you would've thought I lost a real human child. Luckily, he was only three houses down!

Looking forward to movie night with my girls tomorrow night. I love low key nights that like! We're watching Jennifer's Body and The Blind Side. Oh - almost forgot - I watched the second of my twelve classic movies. Citizen Kane... supposed to be one of the best movies ever made. It was pretty good, but I wouldn't call it the best movie EVER made. I'm really happy with this challenge, though... can't wait to see what's next on the list!

Happy Easter, all... have a great day with your loved ones!

Happy Saturday!

It's Saturday, and for many that means the start of their weekend. For some lucky people, who didn't have to work yesterday, it's the middle of their weekend! For me, I'm up at 7:45, about to hop in the shower and get ready for work. I choose to be happy about that fact and focus on what is great in my life this Saturday morning and the rest of the weekend.

I have an awesome Keurig coffee maker I got for Christmas... it serves as my best friend every single morning, and makes my house smell so yummy.


Every client I take care of today helps put me that much closer to my goal of visiting China in the fall! And going to a job I love only makes it all that much better.

I am blessed with my health!

I'm having Easter lunch with my family tomorrow!

I'm getting a pedicure on Monday... can't wait for that! The only way my feet could be happier is if they were on the beach, like this...


I've lost 13 pounds in 26 days! That's half a pound a day and I can't complain about that. The best part is that I feel so great, and I love the way my clothes fit! Maybe this will be me someday!


Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend with their friends and families! This is the first year I will not be eating insane amounts of Easter candy... and I'm okay with that. This sweet lil' chocolate bunny can go home with someone else this year!

China...

For those of you who don't know, one of my best friends from high school lives in Shanghai, China. And I desperately want to go there. I've always had a desire to travel and see new countries, but China was never at the top of the list. Having a friend in China, however, changes things up just a bit. When in my life will I ever have a chance to visit Shanghai with a place to stay, someone who speaks the language(a little), and knows the cool places to go?

I want to go SO bad, and it's really frustrating when it feels like the world is working against you! I've been saving and saving since the first of the year, and my travel fund was pretty much wiped out by the need for new tires. Annoying! I am determined to stay positive and make this happen, in any way that I can. I believe in the Law of Attraction, so I just keep telling myself it will happen. It needs to happen. This is where I will be in October... I can't wait!

howdy y'all!

I am happy to report that this morning I deleted my Facebook game applications! No more cafe world for me! I am also happy to report that I hung curtains in living and dining rooms and bought two new prints for the dining area. It's amazing how cozy my house is starting to feel with these little touches. Since moving in, my decorating focus has been mostly on the kitchen/dining/living areas. I guess since it's the main focus of the house, the central area where people hang out... it needed to get done first. Next up is the office. It's going to be a bit more challenging, since there will need to be painting. Not looking forward to that part, but I know the end result will be totally worth it! I think I have a color picked out. I wanted to go with something sort of teal, with a touch of grey, not to bright and bold, but enough to lighten up the room. I will post before and after pics, but it might be a while! In the meantime, here are the pics of my curtains...




Home decor funds have run a bit low... I took my car in to get the oil changed, and I was told my tires were in horrendous shape. Since I have to make a drive to Dallas in May, I wanted to make sure they were taken care of before then. I took my car to Hibdon's yesterday... they were super nice and helpful, reasonable prices... I will definitely be taking my car back in the future. Anyhoodle, I got new tires and an alignment, and my car is running so smooth, so quiet... and it's much easier to turn. I didn't even realize how rough and noisy my car was until it was fixed!

Another HCG update... my grand total so far is 12.4 pounds! I had originally planned on wanting to lose 20, but I think I'll be quite happy if I can lose 15. My weight loss has definitely slowed, which happens as you get closer to where you should be. I have less than a week on the low calorie phase, I'm hoping I can get those last 2.6pounds! If not, I think I'll lose it when I get to the next phase and I can work out again. I have so much energy lately! Can't wait to get outside for a jog/walk, especially with the amazing weather we've had the last few days. It feels so GREAT to be able to wear clothes I've not been able to wear in almost five years. It's definitely a huge motivator!

A few updates...

Hello, readers! Hope you are having a fantastic Monday... you know it's my favorite day of the week, right?!

First things first... an update on my HCG weight loss journey. Last Monday was the first day of phase two, which is the 500 calorie phase of the diet. I am so HAPPY to report that I have lost 8 pounds since then, and I'm feeling great!! I am not really craving any breads, butter, fried food, oils, and my sugar cravings are FINALLY starting to dwindle a bit. When I do start to crave sugar, I take strawberries and ice to the blender, with a bit of vanilla stevia, and make a sort of slushie with it. Every night I've been having an apple with cinnamon, and placing it in the toaster oven for a few minutes. Also yummy! Day Four was the hardest for me. After the first few days I kept waiting for a day when I would be a little grumpy, have a harder time with the cravings, maybe have a withdrawal headache... and day four was the day! I am so glad my mom is doing this with me, as well as a girl I work with. It definitely makes it easier having a support system. I've gotten to the point that I'm not telling anyone else what I'm doing. Everyone loves to say "You'd lose weight anyway if you were only consuming 500 calories a day". Well, sure you would. But without the HCG, your body would immediately go and take muscle for energy instead of unhealthy, abnormal fat deposits. And you would feel weak. And you would gain all the weight back as soon as you increased your calorie intake.

I'm learning so much from doing this. I've had to prepare all my meals at home. It's amazing how much you can actually eat when your meals aren't fast food, or prepared with a ton of butter and oil. I'm to the point now where I actually crave fresh foods. The thought of anything fried actually turns my stomach.

Okay, moving on... I finally watched my first of twelve classic movies for the year... Gone With The Wind. I really kinda loved it. When I first saw how long it was, I thought "I'm never going to make it through that", but it didn't seem that long at all. Not sure what my next movie will be. I'm going to have to check out the lists over at AFI for inspiration.

Next up will probably be planting some flowers. I'm actually excited about this. It means the weather is warming up! I'm not looking forward to mowing my yard, though. Front yard, not so bad, but my backyard is going to be a bitch! Anyone have a favorite flower they like to plant? I could definitely use a little inspiration!

It's a rainy day and a Monday...

but I'm not going to let it get me down!

It really would've been the perfect day to sleep in and snuggle with my dog... lounge around in my Pj's with a hot cup of coffee. That's usually the way Monday's go for me. But not today! I went to work on my day off. I really didn't mind at all, I'm not going to say no to making a little extra money!

But with the rain... and it being my first day on the low calorie part of my diet... and waking up at 7... and having to drive to Del City to get my taxes done... I just wanted to crawl back in bed.



Instead I'm going to focus on what I'm thankful for today!

I made some extra money that I can put back in my vacation fund...

I am actually getting a little bit of a refund this year with my federal taxes...

Being extremely organized with everything last year means that I spent less than half an hour at my CPA's office...

I discovered that loose leaf pomegranate tea with vanilla stevia is the best thing EVER...

This HCG diet might actually help me kick my sugar addiction once and for all!

I was finished with everything early enough that I can enjoy the rain from inside my house, and get caught up with the DVR...

Happy Monday, readers! Hope you had a good one!

My crazy dream...

Okay, I never remember my dreams. And when I do remember, it doesn't last long before the memory of it starts slowly slipping out of my brain. I thought that since I actually remembered my dream last night, I'd share the weirdness with you. Not that it's that weird... my dreams are never psychedelic or trippy, they're normal situations that weave into each other resulting in something that makes absolutely no sense. Keep in mind, I knew I wouldn't have the chance to blog until later today, so I constantly had to replay it in my mind today. Here we go...

I start off outside of a hospital, out in the ambulance bay, and I'm waxing Kelly Monaco's eyebrows. If you don't know who Kelly Monaco is, she is on General Hospital (which I haven't watched in years, but used to be addicted), and was on Dancing With The Stars (which I've never seen before because I think it's the dumbest show ever). So, got my wax trolley set up outside, waxing Kelly Monaco's eyebrows. Awesome. I finished one eyebrow, it looked perfect, and I spread wax on the other eyebrow, when suddenly, she has to be somewhere. She just darts off, and I'm trying to tell her I'm not done, and that there's still wax on her eyebrow, and she just says, "that's okay, I have to go". I stand in disbelief for a moment, and decide to go back in the hospital. Because apparently, our salon has relocated to a floor at the hospital.


As I'm strolling through the hospital, heading back to work, I decide to swing by and see my friend Reese, who works at the hospital (in real life and the dream). I see her, she's not busy, I wave and try to talk to her, but she completely blows me off. Says she's busy in a rather aloof manner, so I decide to keep going without saying anything else, even though my feelings are terribly hurt. As I turn and leave her station, I run into a girl who compliments my shoes and asks me where I got them. I look down at my shoes, they're Nike's... I tell her I designed them myself on the Nike website. (They're super cute, too... makes me want new tennis shoes). The weird thing is, as I'm telling her about my shoes, I look down and realize I'm wearing two different tennis shoes. They are similar, both are black, silver, and pink... but two completely different tennis shoes. I become terribly embarrassed, thank the girl, and dart off, hoping she didn't notice my mismatched shoes.

As I continue my stroll through the hospital, I decide I want to go by the nursery and check out the newborns. I get to the nursery, peer through the window, and notice it's dark. There aren't any babies, and I'm upset. And really disappointed.

I keep walking, and at this point, I don't even think I'm concerned about getting back to work. I just keep walking and checking out parts of the hospital... and I become very nervous when I realize I'm wearing my scrubs. I'm terrified that because I'm wearing scrubs in a hospital, someone will think I work there (which technically I do, since the salon has relocated), and they will think I'm qualified to handle an emergency. It's at this point, I get to the part of the hospital where emergency situations are handled. And I freeze. I'm terrified. I'm watching all this craziness around me, paramedics are carrying people on stretchers, and having to decide where to take them. I'm standing near the escalators, because yes... this hospital has escalators, and I see a boy and his dad go by on stretchers. I'm trying to figure out what's wrong with them, why they are there, and I'm frozen and wide eyed in shock.

And then I wake up.

The End.

HCG journey...

Today begins the first day of my HCG journey! And I'm super excited!

(Since I don't do a great job at explaining things, if you don't know anything about the HCG diet, or what it is, please Google for info.)

I have to say, I was quite skeptical when I first began hearing about this program. A few people I work with decided to do it at the end of '09, and I thought they were a little crazy. At the time, they were trying to get me on board, but I thought I'd wait and see what their experiences were like before I invested in hundreds of dollars in a weight loss miracle. And I thought they were crazy to inject their bellies with a needle every morning. Well, out of the three people who did this program, I saw three people with varying results. My conclusion was that it works if you actually stick to the guidelines, but... isn't that the case with most diets?

Well, I decided to do a little research on my own after that, and discovered that you can order the HCG online, for much, much less than what my work peeps paid from a nurse practitioner. Now, before you start freaking out, please know that I did my research and didn't just order from any 'ol company off the internet. I did some digging around, finding the most recommended and reputable companies out there. I also elected to do the homeopathic drops versus the injections. No needles for me,m thank you very much.

Sooooo... the first two days of this program include taking the drops while you eat everything in sight. The more fat the better. I have been looking forward to these days like you wouldn't believe!

Wish me luck and I'll keep you updated on my results!

Okay... First post from my phone, so I hope I'm doing it right! What I
have here, in this pic, are the ten pair of shoes I gave away! Also
known as number 11 on the list. I thought I'd have a hard time parting
with them, but it actually felt good. And my closet is thanking me!

Another favorite things post...

What I love right now...

Coffee...I didn't realize how strong my love for coffee actually was until I ran out. I guess I am addicted. I heart my Keurig coffee maker!
If anyone has a favorite Keurig K-cup, let me know. I'm always up for trying new ones.


Food For Life sprouted breads... Yummy! Food For Life makes freshly sprouted, live grain breads. I get the burger buns and make veggie burgers with them. So healthy!!

The Raveonettes... one of my favorite bands for three years now. Can't get enough of them. They are a Danish duo who I've best heard described as a mix between The Jesus & Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine. Throw in a 50's rock influence and there you have it. Love them. LOVE them.


Cougar Town... I love this show! Courteney Cox is hilarious in this, and I'm really hoping it lasts a few seasons. If you haven't seen it, set your DVR, it's really funny!


Words With Friends... If you own an Iphone, I'm sure you are familiar with Words. My friend Theresa got me hooked, I got everyone at work hooked, and sometimes we all sit around and play each other when we're not busy. I never knew phone scrabble could be so addicting. It's really a great way to pass the time, though.

C.O. Bigelow Lip Gloss from Bath & Body Works... Okay, so to be honest, I've never really been a big Bath & Body Works kinda girl. Especially after working at The Body Shop, we stuck our noses up at our competition and pretty much bashed their products every chance we got. However, my sweet friend Lindy picked up a few extra lip glosses when they were on sale, and gave me the Hot Buttered Rum flavor. OMG. I am addicted to this stuff. She later gave me the hot Chocolate flavor, and I like it just as much. They are super shiny and have a little tingle to 'em. Yummy.


And this guy... (I refer to him as) my boyfriend... if you haven't seen (500)Days of Summer, log off your computer immediately, and rent it now. Or rent Mysterious Skin... for an outstanding (and depressing) performance. I heart you, JGL!

The Aquarium Adventure

So... number 13 on my list was go to the aquarium... and I did that Monday! It just so happened to work out that three of my friends all ended up with Monday off, and we decided to hit the road, get out of town for the day, and have a little fun. We had such a blast checking out the fish, watching the sharks swim and eat, taking pictures, and touching starfish and crabs! The four of us even crowded in a tiny photo booth and attempted to get all our faces in a group photo! Afterwards, we took off in search of a place to eat and ended up at Los Cabos... YUMMY!! I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of photos my Iphone produced. I left my camera at home since the battery was low, but I really think my phone worked great. Here are some of my favorite things...
These beavers were enjoying a little lunch...


How cute are these frogs?!


And how cool are these little spotted jellyfish?



And now the big jellyfish... ever see Seven Pounds?


A pot bellied seahorse...


SHARKS!!





This picture didn't turn out well, but it is an otter. And I have decided that I would like a couple of pet otters. I could watch them swim around and play all day long. They are so CUTE!!


These fish only swim vertically. How weird is that?


The electric eel... this thing was crazy!


More cool stuff...





If you haven't been, I would recommend it as a fun day trip, especially if you have kiddos. It's not a real big aquarium, but I think it's just big enough not to get overwhelmed or worn out, since it doesn't take all day to get through and see everything!